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Misconnection errors involve the administration of drugs via the wrong route. For example, the injection of a toxic drug into the spine which should only be injected into a vein. Following a death in 2001 and 13 others in the UK over the previous 15 years, work began to find an engineered solution to misconnection errors. R.Lawton, at the University of Leeds (UoL), evaluated the usability and acceptability and explored the implementation of these different engineered solutions. This research was the basis for the UK National Patient Safety Agency policy and was used by companies to inform the design of these new devices. Ultimately, this research has led to the production of safer devices that are now being purchased by NHS Trusts to reduce patient risk.
Research at the Mixed Reality Laboratory (MRL) into using wearable biosensors to capture and broadcast the experience of riding rollercoasters has driven innovation in how to create, film and broadcast thrilling experiences that has impacted on television, advertising and public engagement. The underlying research received three best paper awards at the ACM's CHI conference and featured as the cover article of Communications of the ACM. Through consultancies for the BBC, Lionsgate, Merlin and TBWA, we have used our techniques and platforms to create numerous television features and online films. Collaborations with TV producer RDF, supported by the Technology Strategy Board, have produced pilots of new television shows. The resulting television broadcasts, enhanced with participation at science festivals, have also engaged many millions of members of the public worldwide with the research into biosensing.
The underpinning research has led to a methodology for cost-effective monitoring systems to interpret complex and emergent conditions in real-world applications. There are ten different organisations utilising the technology, benefitting the UK economy and health care provision, both nationally and internationally. These include MAST Group Ltd, Electricity North West Ltd, TMMHRC (India) and the Milestones Trust (Bristol). The impacts are (i) Economic: improving business capabilities and UK company profit margins (ii) Societal: benefiting health sector organisations in India and in the UK through improved diagnosis and care for the elderly and vulnerable; and (iii) Environmental: reducing waste and carbon footprint.
Led by Professor Andrews, a computational method for real time mission planning, based on Binary Decision Diagrams (BDD), was developed in the Mathematical Sciences Department at Loughborough University (LU) from 1993-2003. This is fast and accurate and can be used to support decision-making on system utilisation in real-time operation, which has led to the ability to diagnose in flight faults for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications.
The research has changed the understanding and awareness of the advantages of BDD, resulting in integration into major industrial trials and proprietary software products, including at BAE Systems, one of the world's largest companies in an area of vital importance to UK security and economic development. The methodology has attracted significant research funding in collaborative programmes with industry.
Since 1998, Leeds Met researchers have worked closely with national arts charity Axis which operates the UK database of contemporary artists. Research focused on how artists can make best use of online platforms to present and sell their work and develop their practice. The collaboration made Axis a digital leader in the arts and helped secure its continued funding in an otherwise volatile arts funding sector, benefitting more than 2,800 UK SMEs (artists and curators). It also resulted in the spin-out of a commercial company that provided Axis with extra income of more than £150,000.